Hilton Head piano competition relocated. Organizers blame coronavirus fears
Fears of coronavirus may have caused last-minute changes to a weeklong international event on Hilton Head Island.
The annual international piano competition, which starts Monday, has relocated several of its events from Central Church to St. Luke’s Church after church leaders told organizers that they wouldn’t be able to handle the event, according to a news release Friday from the piano competition.
Leaders from Central Church did not cite a specific reason for pulling out of the event, but organizers of the piano competition suspect fears of the coronavirus and the competition’s international contestants were likely factors.
“People are just nervous ... when you have an international event,” said Sarah Bergin, marketing director for the competition’s sponsor the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.
The competition’s 20 participants represent Russia, Canada, the United States, Japan, South Korea and Thailand, and range in age from 13 to 17.
Recently, the competition announced two teens from China would not be able to participate due to travel restrictions implemented to stop the spread of the virus. Neither of the teens was sick, Bergin said.
Calls to Central Church’s pastor and main office were not immediately returned Friday afternoon.
The final round of the piano competition will take place at First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head as planned, Bergin said.
Coronavirus information
There is not a confirmed case of coronavirus in South Carolina as of Friday afternoon.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, causes coughing, fever and difficulty breathing. It has infected around 100,000 people worldwide, the World Health Organization reported Friday.
There are 164 cases in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
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What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
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Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
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COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
2020 Hilton Head Piano Competition
Here is the schedule and ticket information for the Hilton Head International Piano Competition:
Round 1: March 9 and March 10 at St. Luke’s Church on Hilton Head
- Performances run from 1:30 p.m. to 4:35 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9:05 p.m.
- Tickets are available online for $10.
Round 2: March 11 and March 12 at St. Luke’s Church on Hilton Head
- Performances run from 12:30 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.
- Tickets are available online for $10.
Final round: March 14 at First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head
- The 5 finalists will play with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra
- The performances start at 7 p.m.
- Tickets are available online and range from $25 to $60 each
This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 5:16 PM.
